Chapter 20#

How Do You Know I’m Not Content in My Suffering Rather Than Being Slaughtered? Chapter ID: 7237209#

“Slaughtered?”

Rong Yu let out a derisive snort. Even with his throat seized, not a trace of panic showed on his face—if anything, the suffocating brush with death only excited him.

“How do you know I’m not content in my suffering rather than being slaughtered?”

Rong Yu’s voice was squeezed out through his constricted windpipe, making it even huskier, while a manic, eerie light gleamed in his eyes. He looked up at Chu Tan from below, the reddened corners of his eyes tilting upward in a lush, gorgeous arc.

“Chu Tan, kill me, and I’ll only thank you.”

Chu Tan stared fixedly at Rong Yu, turbulent emotions churning deep in his dark eyes. He had known it all along—that day when Rong Yu had threatened him with a dagger, those very same eyes had held that same madness.

It was as if he had not a shred of attachment to this world—living was merely going through the motions, a pastime, and death was the ultimate bliss he pursued.

Chu Tan found it baffling. How could anyone not want to live?

He had seen wounded soldiers, dragging their half-dismembered bodies with innards spilling out, crawling desperately back toward survival. He had seen flood refugees gnawing on bark and eating grass roots to stay alive, even swapping children to eat.

The emperor, to prolong his life, sent men across the realm to seek immortals and refine elixirs. Ordinary people, to survive, schemed and scraped by any means necessary.

Even those who sought death surely had some purpose behind it—they died for something.

But Rong Yu was different. He died for death’s own sake.

It was from that moment onward that Chu Tan first grew curious about Rong Yu. This young master was different—unlike anyone Chu Tan had ever met. So Chu Tan chose to stay by Rong Yu’s side, to observe him, to probe him.

Until his interest grew stronger and stronger, and the mysteries around Rong Yu multiplied.

Chu Tan was no longer satisfied with merely watching. He wanted… to possess him.

Chu Tan released his grip, instead cradling Rong Yu’s cheek, and planted a soft peck on the tip of his ear. “How could I bear to kill you? If you fell into my hands, I’d only make you feel pleasure.”

Chu Tan’s gaze was flirtatious and wanton, the implication unmistakable.

Rong Yu frowned and was about to speak when Chu Tan let him go and smiled. “The young master should have his breakfast now.”

The words had barely left his mouth when Mo Shu led a procession of servants filing in. “Young master, breakfast is ready.”

Mo Shu walked up to Rong Yu, shot Chu Tan a hostile glare, and shoved him aside with force before pushing Rong Yu to the table.

During the meal, Mo Shu kept piling dishes onto Rong Yu’s plate, yet noticed he barely ate a few bites. “Young master, is the food not to your liking? Shall I have the kitchen make something fresh?”

Rong Yu shook his head listlessly and set down his chopsticks.

Seeing that Rong Yu had only taken one bite of the crystal shrimp dumpling before discarding it, Mo Shu grew anxious. “Then would the young master like some milk tea? I’ll go brew some in the kitchen—shall I add some tapioca pearls?”

“Don’t bother. I can’t eat.” After the night of heavy drinking, his stomach was deeply uncomfortable, and Rong Yu truly had no appetite.

“Pack up. We’re going home.” Rong Yu closed his eyes and leaned back against the chair to rest.

Mo Shu had no choice but to give the orders.

Just as the party was about to depart, Steward Liu of the hot spring estate came to pay his respects, bringing a young woman with him.

“This is my daughter, seventeen this year, named Yunrou.” Steward Liu’s face crinkled into a smile of wrinkles. “Yunrou, come greet the young master.”

Liu Yunrou curtsied gracefully. “Yunrou greets the young master.”

Liu Yunrou was very beautiful—a delicate, fair-skinned beauty with rosy cheeks, pure and charming. She wore a pink padded jacket and skirt that did not make her look bulky, standing there with eyes lowered, her demeanor serene and composed.

“Yunrou… Liu Yunrou. What a lovely name.” Rong Yu repeated it a few times, eyeing the maiden before him with keen interest, seemingly quite taken with her.

Steward Liu’s eyes lit up, excitement flickering across his face as he smiled. “Does the young master remember four years ago, when Lady Yang came here once with you? She praised my girl as cute as jade and snow, and said that once she came of age, she would be sent into the estate to attend to the young master.”

“I have always remembered her words. Now Yunrou has come of age, and we haven’t betrothed her to anyone.” Steward Liu licked his dry, cracked lips. “I wonder if she is fortunate enough to serve by the young master’s side.”

Rong Yu raised an eyebrow. So this was Steward Liu’s scheme.

Even the original owner barely remembered what happened four years ago. Even if Lady Yang had truly said such a thing, it was likely a casual joke. Yet Steward Liu had taken it to heart, and now came to exaggerate the matter, hoping to send his daughter into the Rong estate to enjoy wealth and glory.

In the original novel, Rong Yu had never returned to the hot spring estate after his mother’s death, and Steward Liu had no way to seek an audience—so this situation never arose. Who knew that this time, Rong Yu would stumble into it by accident?

Rong Yu looked at Liu Yunrou, savoring the name in his mind several times, the gleam in his eyes growing ever richer.

Though in the original novel, the original owner had never had any interaction with Liu Yunrou, this character still appeared in the later stages of the plot, and was a very important figure.

Rong Yu had always loved watching chaos unfold—after all, his greatest pleasure in still being alive was watching how the plot developed, and stirring up a bit of trouble to needle the protagonists along the way.

So Rong Yu propped his cheek on one hand while tapping the armrest of his wheelchair with the other. “Alright, let her come back with me.”

Steward Liu agreed with boundless joy, pulling Liu Yunrou down to kneel and offer thanks together.

Rong Yu watched the father and daughter with a smile, not noticing the gloom that flashed through Chu Tan’s eyes behind him.

An hour later, Liu Yunrou, carrying a small bundle, climbed into the small carriage trailing behind Rong Yu’s.

By the time they returned to the Rong estate, it was nearly noon.

Qin Mama saw that Rong Yu had brought back a woman, and after learning the full story, settled Liu Yunrou in the courtyard to serve first as a room-cleaning maid.

Then she pulled Rong Yu this way and that, checking him over. Only after confirming he was unharmed did she grab Mo Shu by the ear and scold, “On such a cold day, who told you to egg the young master into running around outside? What if he caught a chill?”

Mo Shu dodged and yelped in pain, swearing he wouldn’t dare do it again before Qin Mama finally let him go.

Qin Mama fussed and fretted, ordering the floor heating to be stoked hotter and adding silver charcoal to the brazier. Only when the room was as warm as high summer did she finally remove Rong Yu’s cloak.

Qin Mama chatted idly, as if making conversation. “Does the young master know? The second young master didn’t come home all night. I heard he drank himself drunk and stayed over at the palace. He only returned this morning—the Third Prince personally brought him back, right around the same time as you. The Third Prince is probably still in the front hall at this very moment.”

Mo Shu clicked his tongue in amazement. “This Third Prince truly is devoted to the eldest young lady. And for her sake, he extends that affection to the second young master as well—he cares for him so dearly.”

Rong Yu took a sip of hot tea and shook his head with a light laugh at the remark.

It wasn’t love for the sister at all—it was plainly sneaking around under cover.

Last night was the first passionate scene between the Third Prince and Rong Yue. The book described it in great detail.

The aphrodisiac was potent, Rong Yue stirred with desire, driving the Third Prince past all restraint and unleashing his beastly nature. The two went at it in a secluded side hall, nearly discovered by maids and eunuchs several times. Rong Qingxue even came out looking for them a few times and passed by that side hall, almost stumbling upon them. It was thrilling and taboo, drenched in eroticism.

They kept at it until dawn, and Rong Yue passed out cold—so of course the Third Prince had to personally deliver him home.

Rong Yu sorted through these plot points in his mind as Qin Mama continued, “This old servant has dealt with that little wretch Lü’e. I held off earlier because I didn’t want to court ill fortune during the New Year, but now that the fifteenth has passed, there’s absolutely no reason to keep her around.”

Rong Yu waved a hand dismissively. He didn’t particularly care what became of Lü’e—just thinking about that day made him nauseous.

There was one thing, however, that did catch his attention. He was just about to ask when he saw Qin Mama produce that very object. “Young master, the servants found this in Lü’e’s room.”

Mo Shu stared at it, stunned.

It was none other than that crystalline, gold-threaded hollowed glass cup, shimmering with brilliant, dazzling colors in the sunlight.

But hadn’t Chu Tan smashed it?

This was exactly what Rong Yu had expected. He turned to Chu Tan and beckoned. “Come take a look. What is this?”

Chu Tan gazed at the glass cup that had caused him so much suffering, yet his expression was as calm as a still pond. He answered obediently, “It is the young master’s glass cup.”

“Oh, so you recognize it.” A malicious smile surfaced in Rong Yu’s eyes. “Then what about the one you smashed back then?”

Chu Tan lowered his head. “Your servant never smashed anything.”

Mo Shu took the glass cup, turned it over to look at the bottom, and cried out, “There’s the young master’s name here—this can’t be wrong! This is that very one!”

“It was that little wretch’s scheme.” Qin Mama said indignantly. She hadn’t been at the estate that day, having gone home to care for her sick young son, and had only learned of the incident from Mo Shu afterward.

Qin Mama was shrewd from years of experience; she saw through Lü’e’s scheme at a glance.

“She clearly used a fake cup to pass off as the real one, swapping it out to sell for money—but she never expected the young master’s name to be on the bottom. Afraid of exposure, she could only hide it in her room!”

Rong Yu had long guessed as much, yet he still put on an expression of sudden realization, looking at Chu Tan in feigned surprise. “Ah, so I wronged you. What to do? Your whipping was for nothing.”

Chu Tan didn’t even twitch an eyelid. “The young master’s punishment is a reward, and his reward is also a reward.”

Mo Shu pursed his lips, inwardly cursing him for being a slick talker.

“Hmph, you’re clever, I’ll give you that. But I won’t let you suffer for nothing.”

Rong Yu pressed his fingers against his temple, rubbing as if in thought. A moment later, his eyes lit up, and he had Mo Shu push him outside. He also ordered the servants to chop a hole in the frozen lake in the courtyard.

The commotion drew quite a crowd of onlookers, but Rong Yu didn’t shoo them away—he watched the proceedings with keen amusement from the lakeshore.

Soon, a large hole was hacked into the ice, revealing the bone-chilling lake water beneath.

Rong Yu ran his fingers over the glass cup, then beckoned to Chu Tan.

Chu Tan approached and bent down. Rong Yu patted his face, a smile of childlike innocence and cruelty curving at his lips.

“I said I wouldn’t let that whipping go unanswered. This glass cup—I’m giving it to you.”

With that, Rong Yu raised his hand and tossed it. The glass cup, worth nine thousand taels of gold, plunged straight into the icy hole.

“Go fetch it.”

[Author’s note:]

All of you feeling sorry for the male lead, go back and reread how he bullied his wife!